The debate about licensing and regulating medical cannabis in the state legislature is underway early. Lawmakers already introduced two new bills for the 2015-2016 session – and more are probably on the way.

Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-LA) introduced AB 26, a bill that picks up where former Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-SF) left off when AB 1894 was defeated in the Assembly earlier this year. Like AB 1894, AB 26 seeks to reign in doctors who recommend medical cannabis, establish regulations and licensing for commercial activity, and authorize local taxation. Assembly Member Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced AB 34, but the initial draft is just a one-sentence placeholder. We will have to see what the Assembly Member comes up with in the weeks ahead.

ASA will be sponsoring a bill next year to protect legal medical cannabis patients from being denied an organ transplant. There is no current protection for these vulnerable patients under state law. One ASA member has already died after being dropped from the organ transplant list, and others are in jeopardy right now. Just this weekend, the influential California Medical Association passed a resolution opposing the practice of denying organ transplants to cannabis users.Read more about that big step forward in my blog.

While the debate in Sacramento is getting underway, there is still a lot going on in cities and counties across the state. Fresno County is pushing forward with plans to choke off medical cannabis cultivation, despite public opposition. And in Los Angeles, the City Attorney says he has closed more the 400 dispensaries that are not qualified under the voter-approved Measure D. His next target is a new mobile delivery service. Meanwhile in San Diego, two new legal facilities have been approved to provide medicine for patients.

California & National News

Two New Bills Filed To Regulate Marijuana in California (California)David Downs, East Bay Express

In this edition of Cannabis Radio News, Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access, tells us about the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act.Listen to the broadcast here:http://www.marijuanapublicmedia.org/?p=1113

Monday, December 8, 2014 - Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense (Online) 6:00 PM at www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews Tune in for this weekly live Internet broadcast about cannabis and medical cannabis issues. You can call in to participate.

---December 13-14, 2014 – The Emerald Cup (Santa Rosa)Visit the premier outdoor cannabis contest and exposition at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for music, speakers, great company and more. Visit http://theemeraldcup.com for information and tickets.

---Sunday, December 14, 2014 – Taking the High Road: Comic Confessions from Behind the Cannabis Curtain (Santa Rosa)Doors at 7:00 PM at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Don’t miss this one-woman show by comedian Sherry Glaser. Tickets are $25 at the door or at http://www.BrownPaperTickets.com and proceeds benefit Sonoma County ASA. Call (707) 684-0177 for information.

---Thursday, December 18, 2014 – What’s Next for Medical Cannabis in CA? (Online)7:00 PM online. Join us for the last live Google Hangout of the year to talk about what is on the horizon for medical cannabis in 2015 – voter initiatives, legislation, litigation, and more. Look for links to the live online broadcast soon.

---March 27-31, 2015 – ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference 2015 (Washington, DC)Join us March 27th – 31stfor the biggest and most important medical cannabis conference yet. Early bird and ASA member discounts are now available. Save money on registration, travel, and lodging by registering now. For more information: http://www.nationalmedicalcannabisunityconference.org

Monday, December 8, 2014 – Court Support for Noah Kleinman (Los Angeles)9:00 AM at 312 N. Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Dress in a professional manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendants.

---Friday, December 12, 2014 – Court Support for Frank Marrone (Placerville)8:30 AM at 495 Main St, Placerville, CA 95667. Dress in a professional manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant.

---Friday, December 12, 2014 – Court Support for Fred Delmer (Placerville)8:30 AM Department 1 at 495 Main St, Placerville, CA 95667. Dress in a professional manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant.

A patient in California can be denied a life-saving organ transplant solely based on the fact that he or she uses medical cannabis! Legal patients have died after being removed from the organ transplant list, and others are in jeopardy right now. Americans for Safe Access, the nation's leading medical cannabis patients' advocacy organization, proposes legislation to prevent anyone from being denied a transplant because of medical cannabis. Sign this petition to let lawmakers know you support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act to provide equal access to health care for legal patients.

ASA-CCSA is a membership-based email discussion list about local and state medical cannabis legislation, initiatives, referendums, and related litigation in the state of California. Unlike this weekly email, you can respond to messages on ASA-CCSA and share your response with everyone. The purpose of the list is to facilitate dialog and participation by movement and industry stakeholders. Respectful and courteous participation, conversations, and debate are welcome.

The outdated rules restricting medical cannabis dispensaries to a limited Green Zone of less than 5% of The City of San Francisco have created a clustering problem, and limit access for medical cannabis patients. The current policy has not been updated since 2005. Expanding the existing MCD Green Zone would allow vital medical cannabis dispensaries to locate in more areas of The City of San Francisco.

There is a lot going on with medical cannabis at the local, state, and federal level. You can use ASA’s News page to stay up-to-date. Find links here to ASA’s blog, Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines, and our social media sites. Bookmark the page and check back often.

The “California Weekly Roundup” is a once-a-week email for ASA Members and Friends that focuses on relevant news and important updates, action alerts, meetings and special events. Send items for the California Weekly Roundup to CARoundup@SafeAccessNow.org before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.